The Only Three Things You Really Need to Do Today

You ask a kid in a third world country, “What is the one thing you want more than anything in the world?” and he replies, “A pencil”.

That one event began a path for Adam Braun that led him to quit his cushy consulting job at Bain and start an organization, “Pencils of Promise” that has now built over 100 schools for little kids in various third world countries just five years later.

Along the way he almost died on about four different occasions. I honestly wouldn’t want to go through what he went through.

I used to think I could be on the path to happiness if I only stayed inside my tiny comfort zone (wife, money, blah).

But I didn’t realize that happiness is the path. You start with that. Now your comfort zone is the entire world.

So I read the book and then called him. The book was great. By the time I was finished reading the book, I felt like starting my own charity. And then I called him for my podcast (coming in a few weeks) and we had a great talk, but one thing stuck out (other than him being roommates with Justin Bieber among other things).

I asked him about quitting Bain, a secure future, for something that seemed totally “un” secure. He said Justin Bieber asked him the same thing (and I was really surprised about that part in the book).

One of the things he said in response struck me:

“I feel people can be paid in three ways: in money, in mastery, or in meaning, and ideally you want to be paid in all three.”

I want to say it again:

Money, Mastery, Meaning

For once, I’m going to keep a blog post short. I know I focused too much on the money part for too many years when I was in my 20s and 30s.

And focusing on the money part killed me. I used to think having money solves your money problems. The reality is: money magnifies every problem you’ve ever had, and makes it worse until you find meaning and mastery.

It’s only in the past few years I’ve tried to focus more on the meaning and the mastery.

But it’s hard. It’s scary to think you can get all three, when it’s money that seemingly pays the bills.

But every day, it’s a guarantee, today, there are ways to find money, mastery, and meaning in life. And if you’re only finding one out of the three, look hard for the other two.

Because they will be there if you look for them:

If you surround yourself with other people looking for them…

If you read, if you meet people, if you learn from the things around you, if every day you get slightly out of the comfort zone…

If you get inspired by what is around you instead of blindingly daydreaming about office politics or cash in the bank or all the things I am usually afraid of, regret, or worry about.

I hope each day when I sit down here that I find some meaning in my life. That I master this writing thing at little more… that the bills get paid… that maybe I can help one person.

Success is supposed to zigzag. It’s never once gone in a straight line for me. I’m not sure if it’s ever gone in a straight line for anyone.

But I know my only job is to get paid in these three Ms each day. And to be around others who are looking in their lives for all three Ms.

That’s a good day. And that’s all I have to do. All the tomorrows will be fine if I take care of today.

[Ed Note: James is the host of the #1 business podcast, The James Altucher Show. In the incredible first episode, James interviews a man that essentially reinvented the book-publishing industry. After writing a book and receiving hundreds of rejection notices, this man changed the rules and has since sold nearly 3 million copies of his book and he’s also made a lot of money. You don’t want to miss what he had to say. The easiest way to listen is to subscribe to his podcast through iTunes. Click here to listen.]

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James is the host of the #1 business podcast, The James Altucher Show. In the incredible first episode, James interviews a man that essentially reinvented the book-publishing industry. After writing a book and receiving hundreds of rejection notices, this man changed the rules and has since sold nearly 3 million copies of his book and he’s also made a lot of money. You don’t want to ...

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It’s a simple and concise thought! I’m interested in how people just have a solid paying job then all of sudden just switch to a completely new job. Seams like such a scary move especially with a lot of responsibilities that we currently have. I guess if I really want a change in life then it starts with early to rise to read and master in something else! Tough world we live in. I struggle with taking action. Im all talk but no action.

Thanks for sharing James!

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